Combined rein-holder and storm-apron supporter.



No. 696,6l8. Patented Apr. I902.

w. H. woowmnas.

COMBINED REIN HOLDER AND STORM APBON SUPPOBTER.

' (Application filed Oct. 19, 1901.) (lo Model.)

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UNITE Smarties PATENT @rrrcn.

\VILLIAM IIAZLE XVOOLDRIDGE, OF MEMPIIIS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT G. BOSTWICK, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

COMBINED REIN HOLDER AND STORll/l -APRON SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,618, dated April 1, 1902.

Application filed October 19,1901- Serial No. 79,294. (No model.

To all 1071,0111 it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HAZLE WooL DRIDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Combined Rein Holder and Storm Apron Supporter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined reinholder and storm-apron supporter.

The object is to present a cheap, durable, simply constructed, highly efficient, and readily-applied device for the purpose stated which when attached to any convenient part of the vehicle, such as to one of the bows of the buggy-top, will not present an obstruction upon which articles of clothing can catch and which will be thoroughly etlicient for holding the reins from falling to the ground and becoming entangled with the animals feet and for supporting one side of a stormapron in proper position to Shield the occupant of the vehicle from the elements.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a combined rein-holder and storm-apron supporter, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements herein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the scope of the invention; and in these drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, exhibiting the device as attached to one of the bows of the buggy-top. Fig. 2 is a detail view inperspective of the device per 86. Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation, partly in section, showing a slightly-modified form of rein-stop and storm-apron supporter that may be employed in lieu of that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates, generally, the rein-holder, 2 the combined rein-stop and storm-apron supporter, and 3 'the attaching-clip, by'which the structure may be secured to any convenient part of the vehicle. As herein exhibited, the holder is shown as secured to one of the bows of the vehicle top; but it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to application at this particular point of the vehicle, as it may in someinstances be secured to the whip-socket or elsewhere. The object for s ecuring it to the bow, as described, is to position the device to constitute a support for a storm-apron.

The holder comprises a rigid member 4: and a resilient member 5. The term rigid herein applied to the member 4 is not to be construed as meaning that the member is nonflexible, but only that it is rigid in operation with relation to the member 5. The holder is by preference constructed of a single piece of metal and is bent to form a loop 6, constituting the bottomportion, and an inward and outward curved arm 7, the upper portion of which in use lies contiguous or impinges against the member 4:, the divergent end of the member 5 presenting a recess in which the loop of the reins may readily be inserted. To limit the downward movement of the reins within the holder, the combined rein-stop and storm-apron supporter 2 is provided, this, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consisting of a curved piece of metal having its upper ends bent to lie at right angles to the length of the holder to constitute a stop 8, upon which the loop of the reins will rest. The lower portion of the member 2 is formed into a hook 9, to be engaged by one of the reins of the stormapron, the inner end of the hook projecting within the loop 6 of the holder, thereby to obviate the presentation of an obstruction upon Which the clothing of the occupant of the vehicle might catch. Instead of having the body portion of the member 2 curved, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it may be made straight, as shown at 10 in Fig. 3, and still be within the scope of the invention. As herein shown, the member 2 is held associated with the holder by a staple 11, the ends of which are upset or headed to effect stable association with the holder; but instead of the employment of the staple, as shown, a single rivet or two may be employed as preferred;

The clip 3 is an ordinary split ring provided with outstanding portions 12, transversely orificed for the reception of a bolt 13, a thumb-nut 14, turned on the bolt, serving to clamp the members of the clip tightly around the object with which it is associated. The clip may be assembled with the member 4 of the holder in any preferred manner, as by being riveted or brazed thereto, and as this will be obvious detailed description and illustration are deemed unnecessary.

When the device is positioned as shown in Fig. 1, the reins, either double or singly, are

forced in between the members 4 and 5 and rest upon the stop 8. By reason of the pres; sure exerted upon the reins by the member 5 they will be held securely in place against separation therefrom, and by reason of the fact that they are drawn to one side ofihe animal when thus secured and being held in an elevated position all danger of the reins being caught under the animals tail will be pbviated. When the member 2 is to be employed for supporting the storm-apron, one of the rings usually carried by the apron is passed over a hook 9 in a manner that will be readily understood, thereby holding one side of the apron elevated at the proper point to shield the occupant of the vehicle, the other side of the apron being supported in any usual or well-known manner. If desired, two of these devices may be supplied foreach vehicle, thereby presenting a double reinholder and storm-apron support.

It is tobe understood that should it be found desirable or necessary two clips may be associated with the member 4, thereby positively to insure effective securement in place of the device; but under ordinary conditions one clip will be found sulficient to eflect the objects sought.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. Adevice of the character specified, comprising a rigid member provided with suitable attaching means, a resilient rein-engaging member, and a combined stop and stormapron supporter carried by the device.

2. A device of the character specified comprising resilient rein-engaging means, attaching means carried by the device, and stormapron engaging means associated with the device and having a part to limit the insertion of the reins within the device.

3. A device of the character specified comprising a rigid member carrying a clip, a resilientrein-engagingmember,andacombined stop and storm-apron supporter carried by the device.

4. A device of the character specified comprising a rigid member carrying a clip, a resilient rein-engaging member of a contour to clamp the reins against the rigid member, and a comloined stop and storm-apron supporter carried by the lower portion of the device.

5. A device of the character specified, comprising a piece of metal bent upon itself to form a loop, one of the arms whereof constitutes a resilient rein-engaging member, and the other arm a means of attachment to a suitable support, and a combined stop and storm-apron supporter secured to the inner side of the bend, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WM. HAZLE WOOLDRIDGE.

WVitnesses:

J. S. HARRIS, E. J. HEIDEL. 

